NFL Draft Analysis: Winners and losers from the 2004 NFL draft
Steve McNair lost one of his most explosive targets in WR Justin McCareins. The Titans defense lost probably its most recognizable player in Jevon Kearse. And popular tight end and team leader Frank Wycheck retired after battling a series of concussions.
Yes, the Titans had some holes to fill heading into the NFL draft, and the team deserves rave reviews for its picks. The Titans did have the benefit of more picks (11) than any other team entering the draft, and they only boosted that number by trading their first-round pick to Houston and getting three picks in return.
I say the Titans emerged as one of the big winners from draft day, or in this case, draft days. Unfortunately, it doesn’t help matters that the Super Bowl champion New England Patriots also got out their buckets and soap and mopped the floor with a superb draft.
Who are the winners and losers from the draft, and which teams looked poised to make solid playoff runs? When it comes to the NFL, you can never really tell, but here are a few observations about the upcoming year.
• Eli goes to the Big Apple: So Eli Manning and his father, Archie, broke out the tissues and cried about not wanting to play in San Diego. Now Manning is the QB of the New York Giants. Be careful what you wish for.
The Giants have a makeshift offensive line, a running back who can’t hold onto the football (Tiki Barber), and a porous defense. They do have TE Jeremy Shockey and WRs Amani Toomer and Ike Hilliard, but Manning is going to have a hard time getting them the ball while being chased all over the field.
• The disappearing act: What happened to those Tennessee Vols? UT put on a Vanderbilt-type performance during the draft as the first player picked was Gibril Wilson in the fifth round. The last time UT didn’t have a first- or second-round pick was in 1981. So much for all that talent in Knoxville.
• Watch out, the Patriots are coming: As if New England didn’t have enough offense, the Patriots traded for RB Corey Dillion before the draft, then solidified one of their few weak spots on defense – the middle of the line – with first-round pick DT Vince Wilfork of Miami.
The last thing anybody this side of Boston wants to see is three Super Bowls for the Patriots in four years. Two out of three is bad enough.
• Titans made great strides: Jevon Kearse didn’t record a sack in his last seven games – that included two playoff games where he was virtually invisible. It was time for him to go, especially considering his asking price.
So the Titans drafted three defensive ends in the first four rounds, while also grabbing two cornerbacks and getting offensive line depth. I say bravo!
But the BIG question surrounding this team is at running back where Eddie George is scheduled to earn around $4 million next year, which is about $3 million too much for a back at this stage of his career. George has been adamant that he doesn’t want to take a pay cut (and who really does).
Backup Chris Brown hasn’t proven he can stay healthy, which could spell bad news if Eddie is out of the picture. Can the Titans afford to overpay George? Can they afford to head into an NFL season without him? We’ll know shortly after June 1.
• Teams on the way down: For the last couple years, the Miami Dolphins have been a pretty good team that’s been unable to make the playoffs. Dolphin fans should get ready for the same old song and dance, only this year the Fish might not even be classified as a pretty good team. It’s hard to win without a quality offensive line or a quality quarterback.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers also appear headed for a freefall. It’s hard to win with defense when you don’t have much of one. Losing DT Warren Sapp and S John Lynch doesn’t help. Tampa Bay also doesn’t have a running game.
• Teams on the way up: It won’t take long for QB Byron Leftwich to lead the Jacksonville Jaguars back to the playoffs. Rookie WR Reggie Williams will help the passing game and the defense continues to get more stout by the day.
The Washington Redskins landed the best offseason acquisition by convincing coach Joe Gibbs to return to the sidelines. Forget the long absence garbage. This guy can coach.
During the 1983 scab season, the Redskins were the only NFL team to go 3-0 with a complete roster of replacement players. Think that has anything to do with coaching? How about three Super Bowl rings and one of the most explosive RBs in the game in Clinton Portis, who the Redskins landed by trading CB Champ Bailey.